How will the Twins' outfield look next season?
The Twins' postseason odds currently sit at <0.1%, so all eyes are focused on the 2026 season. The final month of the season should hopefully allow the front office to have a better idea of where things stand for what the Twins' outfield group will look like next year. The Twins currently have a total of nine outfielders on the 40-man roster, and all of them are under team control for multiple seasons.
The givens (Locks to make the opening day roster in 2026):
CF Byron Buxton
Buxton is currently having the best season of his Twins career and has been one of the best players in Major League Baseball offensively and defensively. He's also under team control until 2029 and has stated that he has no intention of using his no-trade clause.
RF Matt Wallner
Wallner has quietly put together a very solid season for the Twins; he's second on the team in home runs with 20, and his 90 games played are already the most of his major league career.
LF Trevor Larnach
It feels safe to say that Larnach is having somewhat of a disappointing season this year. He's still been an above-league-average hitter with a .736 OPS, but that's down .35 points from where it was at last season. His defense has taken an even bigger hit. He was above average defensively last year with a +2 outs above average; this season, his OAA is -5. If Larnach isn't traded this winter (which is something I wouldn't rule out), he'll be on the opening day roster.
Noteworthy Candidates:
LF Austin Martin
Since being recalled after the Twins' trade deadline fire sale, Martin has appeared in 27 of the Twins' 29 games. So far, he's put up a .724 OPS and has 6 stolen bases. He hasn't shown much power, but he has an impressive .358 OBP. Martin's bat is likely good enough to be in the big leagues, but his defense is an issue. He's already been worth -2 OAA since being recalled. Martin will be entering his age-27 season.
LF Alan Roden
Roden is out for the rest of the season with a thumb injury he suffered sliding into home plate. He was acquired from the Blue Jays by the Twins in exchange for Louis Varland at the deadline. Before his injury, he played in 12 games for the Twins and put up a .463 OPS. His Triple-A numbers are encouraging, however, as he posted a .918 in 32 games there. What could give Roden an edge over other candidates is his defense. In 55 games this season between Toronto and Minnesota, he's been worth +2 outs above average. Roden will be entering his age-26 season.
CF James Outman
The Twins acquired James Outman from the Dodgers in exchange for Brock Stewart. Outman was one of the best rookies in baseball during the 2023 season, where he posted a 3.4 WAR in 151 games with the Dodgers. Since then, he's been disappointed at the big league level; in 35 games between Minnesota and Los Angeles this year, he has a .521 OPS. Outman has crushed Triple-A pitching this season with a .945 OPS in 82 games there. Worth noting that Outman is also a very strong defender; he has a career +11 OAA in the majors. He will be 28 at the start of next season.
DFA Candidates
CF DaShawn Keirsey Jr.
Keirsey's speed and defense are both intriguing, but his bat has been very disappointing. He's put up a .324 OPS in the majors this season. He'll be 28 at the start of next season, so it would be surprising to see the Twins not attempt to sneak him through waivers, especially considering the depth they have at the position.
RF Carson McCusker
McCusker has played in just 6 games with the Twins this season in two separate small big league stints. He's played a total of 123 games this year in Triple-A and has put up a .801 OPS with 22 homers. He's also slowed down a lot in the second half. McCusker will be 27 going into next season, another guy the Twins will more than likely attempt to sneak through waivers this winter.
Young guys who will likely debut at some point next season:
CF Emmanuel Rodriguez
Rodriguez already occupies a 40-man roster spot, but he's only 22 years old and has dealt with multiple injuries this year that have resulted in him appearing in only 53 games at the minor league level. He currently ranks as the fourth-best prospect in the Twins system and the #72 prospect in the majors. If he's healthy, we will see him at some point with the Twins next year.
RF Gabriel Gonzalez
Gonzalez is probably the frontrunner for Twins minor league player of the year. He's had an outstanding season already, reaching Triple-A at just 21 years old. He has a .907 OPS in the minors this year over three different levels. At the pace he's progressing, it's more than likely he'll be in the majors at some point next season. He currently does not occupy a 40-man roster spot.
CF Walker Jenkins
Jenkins is regarded as one of the best prospects in the game, and he's already reached Triple-A at the age of 20, even while missing the first half of the season due to injury. He's only played in 6 games at Triple-A, but he put up a .912 OPS in 52 games at the Double-A level. Jenkins looks like a future superstar, and him making his major league debut looks like a possibility in 2026. He currently does not occupy a 40-man spot.
CF Kyler Fedko
One more name that just has to be mentioned here. Fedko is already in his age-25 season and has yet to play in the majors and is not included on the 40-man, but he's had a monster year across Double-A and Triple-A. In 113 games, he's hit 26 homers and stolen 33 bases while posting an .883 OPS. He's 100% deserving of a promotion with the season he's had. It's also worth mentioning that Fedko has played some first base this season, which is a position where the Twins have a lot less depth.